The antigenicity of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae T28 (serotype 2) was investigated. Antigens were solubilized from the cell surface with detergents. By means of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting it was shown that the molecular weight of the main antigenic component--a nonprotein--was 14,000 to 22,000. T...

The antigenicity of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae T28 (serotype 2) was investigated. Antigens were solubilized from the cell surface with detergents. By means of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting it was shown that the molecular weight of the main antigenic component--a nonprotein--was 14,000 to 22,000. This major antigen was shown to be a polydisperse anionic polysaccharide located on the surface of E. rhusiopathiae. Affinity chromatography also revealed a number of immunologically active proteins with molecular weights of 78,000, 72,000, 68,000, and 48,000. Minimize

In the course of fibrinolytic therapy with the streptococcal antigen streptokinase the effect of antigen intravenously on specific antigen-sensitive lymphocytes in the peripheral blood was studied.

In the course of fibrinolytic therapy with the streptococcal antigen streptokinase the effect of antigen intravenously on specific antigen-sensitive lymphocytes in the peripheral blood was studied. Minimize

The sera of certain patients with systemic lupus erythematosus contain an antibody-like substance capable of reacting with highly purified DNA preparations from widely divergent sources. Precipitin reactions have been demonstrated by double diffusion in agar and quantitative precipitin curves have been obtained. Complement was observed to be fix...

The sera of certain patients with systemic lupus erythematosus contain an antibody-like substance capable of reacting with highly purified DNA preparations from widely divergent sources. Precipitin reactions have been demonstrated by double diffusion in agar and quantitative precipitin curves have been obtained. Complement was observed to be fixed in the reaction. Evidence was obtained that the serum factor possessed antigenic properties similar to those of γ-globulins and migrated with this fraction on zone electrophoresis. The interaction of this factor with DNA exhibited certain specific characteristics which differ considerably from non-specific reactions between DNA and proteins in general. The DNA-precipitating factor appeared to be one of a number of related factors reacting with nuclear constituents of many different cells. It differed in certain respects from the "LE factor" which is responsible for the formation of "LE cells." The accumulated evidence, although not yet conclusive, favors the concept that the precipitating factor represents an antibody to DNA, and that it is one of a number of autoantibodies elicited in this disease. Minimize

Circulating immune complexes were determined in the sera of patients with ankylosing spondyhtis using a polyethylene glycol precipitation laser ncphelometer technique. Positive results were obtained in 52% of sera from patients with active disease, but only in 20% from those in inactive stages The immunoglobulin/complement protein ratio differed...

Circulating immune complexes were determined in the sera of patients with ankylosing spondyhtis using a polyethylene glycol precipitation laser ncphelometer technique. Positive results were obtained in 52% of sera from patients with active disease, but only in 20% from those in inactive stages The immunoglobulin/complement protein ratio differed from that seen in rheumatoid arthritis and in systemic lupus erythematosus, due to the relatively larger amounts of C3 and C4 present in the immune complexes These findings indicate that circulating immune complexes in ankylosing spondyhtis may not be of pathogenetic significance because of their higher degree of solubilization. Minimize

For functional characterization and semi-quantitative estimation of soluble regulator factors influencing polyclonal B cell proliferation and differentiation, we established two assays. One of the assays measures enhancement or inhibition of proliferation from purified human spleen B lymphocytes, and the other one the effect of soluble factors o...

For functional characterization and semi-quantitative estimation of soluble regulator factors influencing polyclonal B cell proliferation and differentiation, we established two assays. One of the assays measures enhancement or inhibition of proliferation from purified human spleen B lymphocytes, and the other one the effect of soluble factors on CESS-cell differentiation. We found no difference concerning regulator factors for B cell differentiation between bone marrow cell culture supernatants from multiple myeloma (MM) patients and from controls, whereas significantly higher suppressor activity on polyclonal B cell proliferation could be detected in the former group of supernatants. The extent of such determined suppressor activity in vitro correlated with the amount of polyclonal serum IgM of the corresponding patients. These results indicate that one or several soluble suppressor factors may be involved in immunoregulatory mechanisms responsible for the humoral immunodeficiency observed in MM patients. Minimize